Fox News host Mike Huckabee is so outraged that The Muppets and “militant homosexuals” are attacking Christian restaurant chain Chick-fil-A for their stance on LGBT rights that he has calling for “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” on August 1.

“I have been incensed at the vitriolic assaults on the Chick Fil-A company because the CEO, Dan Cathy, made comments recently in which he affirmed his view that the Biblical view of marriage should be upheld,” Huckabee wrote on his Facebook page. “At 91, he is still active in the company, but his son Dan runs it day to day as CEO. It’s a great American story that is being smeared by vicious hate speech and intolerant bigotry from the left.”

“I ask you to join me in speaking out on Wednesday, August 1 ‘Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day,'” he added. “The goal is simple: Let’s affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1. Too often, those on the left make corporate statements to show support for same sex marriage, abortion, or profanity, but if Christians affirm traditional values, we’re considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers, and intolerant.”

In a message to his supporters, Huckabee explained that “militant” homosexuals were “bullying” Chick-fil-A with “intolerance and vicious hate speech.”

“The militant homosexual advocates have launched an all out assault on Dan Cathy and Chick Fil-A, pushing for a boycott because the Cathy family has contributed to traditional marriage organizations,” the former Arkansas governor charged.

“The attempts to hurt or destroy Chick Fil-A is nothing short of economic bullying. In the name of ‘tolerance,’ there is an effort being mounted to put pressure on people to stop eating at Chick Fil-A. … The Christian world view of Dan Cathy is being met with intolerance and vicious hate speech.”

Equality Matters reported earlier this month that the restaurant chain had given over $1.9 million in 2010 alone to groups that oppose marriage equality and other LGBT rights.

“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit,” Cathy said. “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”

The Jim Henson Company announced on Friday suggested that it was ending its relationship with Chick-fil-A and would no longer be offering The Muppets toys in kids’ meals because of the Christian restaurant chain’s anti-LGBT agenda.

“The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors,” the company wrote on its Facebook page. “Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to [The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] GLAAD.”

Late last week, Chick-fil-A attempted to distance itself from its owner’s comments.

“The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender,” a statement on Chick-fil-A’s Facebook page said. “Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”

About the Author

David Edwards has served as an editor at Raw Story since 2006. His work can also be found at Crooks & Liars, and he's also been published at The BRAD BLOG. He came to Raw Story after working as a network manager for the state of North Carolina and as as engineer developing enterprise resource planning software. Follow him on Twitter at @DavidEdwards.